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Joe Farrell didn't practice with the Rhinos early this week because the rookie defender was back in Philadelphia giving a final presentation at La Salle University and taking a couple of final exams to complete his Integrated Science Business and Technology degree (education minor).

So far, the center back with a 3.24 GPA has aced all seven matches of his pro career for Rochester, too.

The 22-year-old is the only player who hasn't left the field for coach Bob Lilley's club this season and he was solid again as the defending USL champions played first-place Charlotte to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night at chilly and windy Rhinos Stadium. It was a 24th straight home match without a loss (21-0-3), tying a Rhinos record set during A-League title seasons in 2000 and 2001. The Rhinos are 4-1-2 and tied for fourth; Charlotte is 5-2-2 and in a three-way tie for first with Louisville and expansion Cincinnati, which drew a league-record 23,375 fans Saturday for a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh.

"He’s a perfect center back for the system that we’re playing — great in the air, very aggressive but also very intelligent," second-year goalkeeper Adam Grinwis said of Farrell, a four-time All-Midwest Region pick who last month was named La Salle's male scholar athlete of the year. "He’s a coach’s kid and you can tell because he’s very smart."

Joe Farrell was a four-time All-Midwest Region selection at LaSalle University and has played every minute of the Rhinos' first seven matches.(Photo: PROVIDED)

Farrell's college coach was his father, Patrick. But Joe pointed out with a smile that his first soccer coach when he was 4 and 5 years old was his mother, Patricia. His parents were in Rochester on Saturday, but the whole family will be at home in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, about 15 minutes outside Philly, for graduation next weekend.

"Walking in graduation is something I've always wanted to do, something tons of people want to do. I told (Lilley) I wanted to go and he completely understood," said Farrell, who is expected to play in Wednesday's second-round U.S. Open Cup match at home but will miss Saturday's USL match at Orlando City. "Obviously, I wish I could be there with the boys in Orlando but they're going to do just fine."

A sturdy 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Farrell has been paired with another youngster, German Wal Fall, the past two matches with returnee Vasileios Apostolopoulos injured. Rochester was also without midfielder Tony Walls (personal reasons) on Saturday, but its defense stood up. The closest anyone came to scoring was a 68th-minute chip that hit the crossbar by Charlotte's David Estrada.

"(Joe's) in a great situation. To me, he seems to be growing as a player, which is what you’re supposed to (do), continue to develop," said Patrick Farrell, who also coached former Rhinos goalie John McCarthy (2014). "He’s in a position where there’s a lot of leadership and responsibility involved and he seems like he’s dealing with it really well."

Lilley has liked what he's seen, too.

"He’s a competitor. He's hard-nosed," Lilley said. "He reminds me a lot of (Rhinos 2015 Rookie of the Year) Julian (Ringhof): good in the air, tough in the tackle, decent pair of feet. He’s working hard."